Tilting closet actuator mechanism



J1me 1942- E. A. FREDRICKSON 2,287,169

t TILTING CLOSET ACTUATOR MECEANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1Marcia; frafijofifiaza.

J1me .1942. E. A. FREDRICKSON 2,237,169

TILTING CLOSET ACTUATOR MECHANISM Filed Augl 25; 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 vz-yg zfirm J1me 1942. E. A. FREDRICKSON 1 TILTING CLOSET ACTUATORMECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mimi;

.Iizuar d Fred/6 070 Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED s'r'rs OFFICE TILTINGCLOSET ACTUATOR MECHANISM Edward A. Fredrickson, Chicago, 111., assignorto Crane Co Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved closet flush valve actuatormechanism and more particularly has for one of its principal objects theprovision of a tripping mechanism for flush valves for use on folding orpivotable water closets in which it is desired to supply the closet bowlwith a water seal or priming flush upon predetermined movement of thesaid bowl from an inoperative to an operative position. The mechanismset forth in the present application is an improvement over a similarmechanism set forth in United States Letters Patent No. 2,205,801 issuedJune 25, 1940. An example of the folding or pivotable type of closetbowl and dual type flush valve to which the mechanism is adaptable isillustrated and described in connection with United States LettersPatent No. 2,219,437, issued October 29, 1940, of which I am aco-inventor.

One of the more important objects of this invention lies in theprovision of a flush valve tripping mechanism which operates the valvehandle or actuator during the unfolding movement of the closet bowl andwhich, when the closet is in the unfolded or operative position,functions to effect a complete release of the valve handle from thetripped position.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a flush valvetripping device which is so constructed that it positively actuates thevalve handle during the unfolding movement of the closet bowl, but doesnot actuate the valve handle during the folding movement of the closetbowl.

Another and still further important object of this invention is theprovision of an easily adjustable and conveniently removable flush valveoperating mechanism, and one which is readily adaptable to all sizes andtypes of bowls.

Other and further important objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the following specifications and accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a side exterior view slightly in plan perspective of afolding closet bowl embodying my invention and in which figure the bowlis shown in the operative and unfolded position.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view of a dual type flush valve showing therelative positionings of the valve tripping mechanism with respect tothe bowl when the Valve and the closet bowl are in the operativeposition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the flush valve and a novel trippingdevice showing progressively by the solid lines and the dotted lines themanner in which the tripping mechanism permits the'return of the closetbowl to the folded position without actuation of the flush valve.

Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing the valve handle in the tripped oroperative position during the movement of the bowl and the valve fromthe folded to the unfolded position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the novel adjusting meansincorporated in this device.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the adjustment arm of the device of'this inventionshowing a front elevation thereof.

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the adjustment arm shown in Figs. 6 and'7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

The following brief description of a typical installation embodying apreferred construction of my invention isprovided for illustrativepurposes only and it is, of course, to be clearly understood that theinvention may be applied to otherdevices inwhich a similar means ofactuation is desirable.

As shown in Fig. 1, the folding closet bowl generally designated l isshown in the unfolded or operative position and is mounted upon apivotable hollow trunnion 2, the said bowl and trunnion beinginterconnected by the water supply and discharge conduits 3 and 4,respectively. Flushing water is supplied to the fixture for the usualpurpose through'the inlet pipe 5 having connection with a suitablesource of water supply (not shown) and with the direction of the waterflow being taken as indicated by the arrow. Preferably, but notnecessarily required, in connection with the control of such watersupply, a stop valve 6 is provided so that in the event it is necessaryto make adjustments upon the assembly, or to make repairs or inspectionsof the fixture, thestop valve may be used to shut off the water supplyto the fixture. The latter valve is attached by means of a suitable pipeconnection 1 to the lower portion of the hollow trunnion base or bearing8.

-The trunnion 2 comprises a hollow journaled tube which is preferablyinternally partitioned to cause one end to provide a suitable passagewayfor the inlet water supply between the bearing 8 and the conduit 3, andto cause the other end of the'trunnion to provide a suitable passagewayfor the discharge Water between the discharge conduit 4 and the outlet9. The trunnion 2, in addition to providing water passageways for theflushing operations of the bowl, also provides a journaled support forthe bowl whcih permits the upward rotational movement of the bowl aboutthe horizontal axis of the trunnion to the folded or inoperativeposition.

A dual type flush valve generally designated I is preferably, althoughnot necessarily, attached to the side of the bowl I and interconnectsthe inlet conduit 3 with the usual internal flushing water passageways(not shown) of the bowl. A dual type flushing valve is provided inconnection with the bowl for the manifold purposes of furnishing thebowl with an automatically sup-. plied priming or sealing water flushupon movement of the bowl from the folded or inoperative position to theunfolded or operative position and, after the bowl has been used, tofurnish a discharge flush upon manual tripping or operation of the flushvalve in the preferred manner hereinafter described at greater length.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 2. The construction of the dual valvecomprises a casing which, as illustrated, is divided into two chambersI2 and I3, both of which are interconnected by means of the port l4.Each of the chambers I2 and I3 is provided with a valve closure member|5 which may be actuated by tilting the stem |6 thereof to one side. Themanual means of operation provided to trip the valve comprises the footpedal H which, when depressed, causes the lever H! to move inwardly thusforcing the plunger l9 to move forward against the action of the spring2| to tilt the stem IS. A tiltable handle 22 for independent actuationis preferably provided with a roller 23 near its outermost end and whichfunctions in connection with the chamber I?) for forcing a plungeridentical to I!) to move forward and to trip the similarly mounted valvecontained in the chamber l3. The complete construction and manner ofoperation of the dual type flush valve, as has been stated, appears morefully in Patent No. 2,219,437 previously referred to.

More particularly, the present invention concerns an improved adjustableand removable mechanism for actuating the tiltable valve handle 22 andcomprises essentially a vertically extending post 24 preferably threadedto the trunnion bearing 8, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. Theadjustable arm 26 mounted on the post 24 has pivotably mounted thereonthe tripping pawl- 21. As indicated, the threaded socket 28 into whichthe externally threaded end portion of the post 24 is engaged, ispreferably integrally applied to the upper surface portion of thetrunnion bearing 8. The upper end of the post 24 has an internallythreaded bore 29 into which is threaded the bolt 3|, the latter memberbeing rotatably journaled in the top of the telescoping sleeve portion32 of the adjusting arm 26. It is apparent that the constructionprovides that the arm26 moves vertically, but non-rotatably uponrotation of the bolt 3|. The arrangement of the integral supportingcollar 33 within the sleeve 32 with the pin 34 above and outside thetelescoping sleeve 32 results in the arm 26 and the bolt 3| being movedvertically together for desired adjustability. For convenience inobtaining rotation thereof, the head of the bolt 3| is provided with ascrew-driver slot 36 thus enabling quick, easy adjustment of the heightof the arm 26 and the associated tripping pawl 21 and avoiding thenecessity of using wrenches in relatively limited space. Thus the arm 26together with the associated tripping pawl 21 moves vertically on thepost 24. The pawl 21 has a weighted lower portion 31 which tends tonormallymaintain the pivotally mounted pawl in the desired verticalposition as shown in Fig. 5. A rubber mounting 38 is preferablypositioned circumferentially around the lower portion of the pawl 21 toact as a cushioning bumper when the pawl subsequent to being actuatedreturns to its vertical position against the arm 26.

As best shown in Figs. 6 and '1, the telescoping sleeve portion 32 ofthe arm 26 is preferably of the recess 44-.

split, being supplied with a longitudinal slot 39 at any convenientlocation around its periphery in order that the sleeve may be moresecurely attached to the post 24. Apertured ears or lugs 4| and 42 areprovided on opposing edges of the slot 39 for the purpose of applyingthe bolts 43 to draw the edges of the sleeve slot together in a clampingaction. Further vertical movement of the bolt 3| is prevented by use ofthe bolt 43 after the arm 26 and the associated pawl 21 have beenproperly set for the particular bowl selected for use. It is necessaryto have compensating adjustments available in the tripping mechanismbecause the occurrence of slight discrepancies is common in themanufacturing of china bowls and similar vitreousware. The noveladvantages of this invention include vertical adjustment and settingmeans, as well as rotational adjustment of the telescoping sleeve 32around the post 24.

The uppermost portion of the arm 26, as more clearly shown in thesectional view of Fig 5, extends within the recess 44 of the pawl 21;the latter member being rotatably mounted is attached to the arm 26 bymeans of the pin 46, and has its rotational movement limited in thecounter-clockwise direction by the rubber bumper 38 abutting the arm 26.The clockwise rotational movement of the pawl 21 is restrained to someextent by its weighted lower portion 31 and is further restricted by theend wall portion The loaded portion 31 of the pawl 21 is provided so asto effectively maintain the pawl in a substantially vertical positionfor reasons hereinafter explained at greater length.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bowl and flush valve are in the unfolded oroperative position. Assuming that it is desired to fold or to move thecloset arcuately to the inoperative position, the fixture is moved in aclockwise direction pivotally about the central axis of the trunnion 2whereupon, as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3, the roller 23 contactsthe upper end surface portion of the pawl 21. Inasmuch as during thefolding movement of the fixture it is not desirable to trip the handle22 and to flush the bowl, the pawl 21 is made to rotate about the pine46 and, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the pawl assumes atilted position thereby permitting the valve handle to proceed past thepawl without actuation of the handle 22. Upon further operation of thefixture towards the inoperative position the pawl is released fromcontact with the roller 23, whereupon the pawl 21 returns to itsvertically extending position.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bowl and the flush valve are assumed to be inthe process of being moved from the inoperative to theoperative positionso far as flushing is concerned. At this stage of its operation,theroller 23, as shown, contacts with the upper surface portion of theindexingpawl 21 and as the fixture continues to move pivotally downwardin a counter-clockwise direction, the valve handle is tilted or cantedupwardly as it strikes the upper corner of the pawl 21 to actuate thevalve and to furnish the closet bowl with the water fiush. Furthermovement of the bowl towards the lowered or operative position releasesthe tilted valve handle 22 and allows the latter to return to its normaluntripped position, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, thus completing itscycle of operation between the respective folded and unfolded positionsof the closet bowl.

Having thus described my invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, itis to be expressly understood that various changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimsappended hereto.

I claim:

1. In combination, a foldable type closet bowl, a flush valve therefor,means for actuating the said flush valve upon unfolding movement of thesaid bowl, the said means comprising a tiltable valve actuator, trippingmeans for the said actuator, the said tripping means including a fixed,substantially vertical supporting means therefor, means on saidsupporting means for adjustably positioning the said tripping means, apawl secured to the end of the said arm in the path of the saidactuator, the said pawl providing index means, whereby upon foldingmovement of the said closet bowl the said pawl releases to permituntripped movement of the said valve actuator and upon unfoldingmovement of the said closet bowl the said pawl acts to trip the saidvalve actuator.

2. In combination, a foldable type Water closet bowl having a dual typeflush valve in cooperation therewith, said fiush valve having respectivemanual and automatic means of actuation, the said automatic meanscomprising a tiltable valve actuator and a tripping means for the saidactuator, the said tripping means including a post fixedly mountedrelative to the said bowl, axially movable means for adjustablypositioning the said tripping means relative to the said post, a pawlloosely secured to the end of the said post in the path of the saidactuator, the said pawl having indexing means, whereby upon foldingmovement of the said closet bowl the said pawl is moved to permituntripped movement of the said valve actuator and upon unfoldingmovement of the said closet the said pawl is held relatively fixed totrip the said valve actuator.

3. In an arcuately movable water closet bowl having a flush valve inconnection therewith, the said flush valve having automatic actuation,said automatic actuation comprising respective tiltable means andtripping means for the said tiltable means, the said tripping meansincluding an arm mounted upon a stationary base, the said arm includingupper and lower portions adjustably movable relative to each other, apawl in pivotal relation with the said upper portion of said arm andpositioned in the path of the said tiltable means, the said pawl havinga peripheral indexing means, whereby upon arcuate movement of saidcloset bowl in one direction the said pawl is pivotally moved permittinguntilted movement of the said tiltable means and upon movement of thesaid closet bowl in an opposite direction the said pawl is moved to tiltthe said tiltable means.

4. A foldable type water closet bowl comprising a dual type fiush valvehaving respective manual and automatic means of operation, the saidautomatic means comprising a tiltable valve operator and a trippingmeans for the said operator, the said tripping means includingsubstantially upright supporting means fixedly mounted relative to thesaid bowl and telescopically arranged means longitudinally movablerelative to the said supporting means, threaded means for efiectinglongitudinal movement of said telescopically arranged means journaled inthe upper portion of the said supporting means, a pawl loosely securedto the end of the said supporting means in the path of the saidoperator, the said pawl having indexing means whereby upon foldingmovement of the said closet bowl the said pawl is moved to permituntripped movement of the said valve operator and upon unfoldingmovement of the said closet the said pawl is held relatively fixed totrip the said valve operator.

5. A foldable type water closet bowl comprising a dual type flush Valvehaving respective manual and automatic means of operation, the saidautomatic means comprising a tiltable valve operator and a tripping mensfor the said operator, the said tripping means including substantiallyupright supporting means fixedly mounted relative to the said bowl andtelescopically arranged means longitudinally movable relative to thesaid supporting means, threaded means for eifecting longitudinalmovement of said telescopically arranged means journaled in the upperportion of the said supporting means, means for maintaining the saidtelescopically arranged means in predetermined relation with the saidsupporting means, apawl loosely secured to the end of the saidsupporting means in the path of the said operator, the said pawl havingindexing means whereby upon folding movement of the said closet bowl thesaid pawl is moved to permit untripped movement of the said valveoperator and upon unfolding movement of the said closet the said pawl isheld relatively fixed to trip the said valve operator.

EDWARD A. FREDRICKSON.

